Fire smothering and oil catching apparatus for use with offshore oil rigs

ABSTRACT

A COVER WITH DEPENDING NESTING SIDES, THE UPPER PARTS OF WHICH TELESCOPE INTO A LOWER PART. THE COVER AND SIDES ADJOINING ARE LINED WITH REFRACTORY MATERIAL. INTERMEDIATE THE LINING AND THE COVER A SPRINKLER SYSTEM IS MOUNTED TO PROVIDE A DESCENDING SPRAY OF COOLING AND FIRE EXTINGUISHING MATERIAL. THE APPARATUS IS ADAPTED TO BE LIFTED BY ITS LOWER PART WITH UPPER PARTS TELESCOPED THEREIN BY AFLOATING CRANE AND LOWERED BY CABLE OVER A BURNING OFF-SHORE OIL RING AND SUCH LIKE TO ENCLOSE IT FROM TOP TO BELOW SEA LEVEL. VERTICAL ADJUSTABLE JACKS ARE MOUNTED TO DEPEND FROM SAID COVER AND ENGAGE THE TOP OF THE WORKING PLATFORM OF AN OIL RIG TO SPACE IT FROM SAID PLATFORM AND SUPPORT THE APPARATUS WHEN IT IS FULLY EXTENDED DOWNWARD. THE SIDES, EXTENDING BELOW SEA LEVEL, DEFINE AN ENCLOSED RESERVOIR AREA FOR CATCHING LIQUID POLLUTANTS. A CONDUIT IS MOUNTED IN THE LOWER PART OF SAID SIDES, AN END OF WHICH IS SUPPORTED AT SEA LEVEL IN THE RESERVOIR AREA, AND ANOTHER END OF WHICH EXTENDS OUTWARDLY OF THE SIDES FOR DISCHARGING LIQUID POLLUTANTS IN SAID RESERVOIR AREA TO SALVAGE BARGES BROUGHT LONGSIDE. THE TELESCOPING SIDES ARE ROLLER BEARINGED BETWEEN SIDES AND AT CORNERS TO PROVIDE NON-FRICTIONAL AND NONJAMMING OPERATION. A HATCH AND DEPENDING LADDER ARE MOUNTED IN THE COVER TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO WORK PLATFORM AFTER FIRE IS SMOTHERED FOR REPAIRING THE RING AND STOPPING THE FLOW OF OIL TO THE RESERVOIR AREA.

United States Patent 1 Chiasson et a]. Y

[ FIRE SMOTIIERING AND OIL CATCHING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH OFFSHORE OILRIGS [76] Inventors: Randall J. Chiasson, 808 Jefferson St.; Ronald G.Bourg, 114 Thoroughbred Dr.; Tilton J. Arceneaux, 1514 Lynn Ave., all ofThibodaux, La. 70301 [22] Filed: Dec. 28, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 212,998

[52] U.S. Cl 169/2 R [51] Int. Cl. A62c 3/00 [58] Field of Search 169/2R, 1; l66/2, 166/75, 315, 90, 81, 79

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,554,290 l/l97l Verdin169/2 R 3,664,429 5/1972 Jones 169/2 R Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood,Jr. Assistant Examiner-A. Kashnikow AttorneyJames B. Lake, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A cover with depending nesting sides, the upper parts ofwhich telescope into a lower part. The cover and sides adjoining arelined with refractory material. Intermediate the lining and the cover asprinkler system is mounted to provide a descending spray of cooling andfire extinguishing material. The apparatus is adapted to be lifted byits lower part with upper parts telescoped therein by a floating craneand lowered by cables over. a burning off-shore oil rig and such like toenclose it from top to below sea level. Vertical adjustable jacks aremounted to depend from said cover and engage the top of the workingplatform of an oil rig to space it from said platform and support theapparatus when it is fully extended downward. The sides, extending belowsea level, define an enclosed reservoir area for catching liquidpollutants. A conduit is mounted in the lower part of said sides, an endof which is supported at sea level in the reservoir area, and anotherend of which extends outwardly of the sides for discharging liquidpollutants in said reservoir area to salvage barges brought alongside.The telescoping sides are roller bearinged between sides and at cornersto provide non-frictional and non-jamming operation. A hatch anddepending ladder are mounted in the cover to provide access to workplatform after fire is smothered for repairing the rig and stopping theflow of oil to-the reservoir area.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUM 1 1 I974 SHEET 10F 2 slelslsszPATENTEBJUH 1 1 m4 SHEET 2 OF 2 FIRE SMOTHERING AND OIL CATCIIINGAPPARATUS. FOR USE WITH OFFSHORE OIL RIGS oil catching apparatus forputting out off-shore oil rig It is old in the art to blow out oil rigfires with explosives with probable attendant damage to the rig and toextinguish fires with extinguishing materials. Often fires have to berestarted after they have been put out in order to burn the escaping oilto prevent pollution of the sea and adjacent shores.

It is an object of the invention to provide dual means for smotheringfires on off-shore oil rigs without adding to the damage inflicted bythe fire, and for catching escaping oil for removal in salvage barges.

Other objects and a more complete understanding of the invention may behad by referring to the following specification, claims and drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the invention being lowered over anoff-shore oil rig,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the invention in place an enclosing said oilrig, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial cross-section taken along section lines3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, a crane barge mounts a crane 12 which suspends theinvention of telescoping parts 14 by a cable 15, attached to the lowestof said parts, over a burning off-shore oil rig 16.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the invention comprises three rectangularsections 18, 20 and 22, respectively, that are vertically arranged tosuccessively telescope downward from the section next above. Smallestsection 18 comprises a top cover 24 and depending sides 26 that areadapted to enclose the top of oil rig 16. Intermediate rectangularsection 20 comprises depending sides 28 that are spaced apartsufficiently for section 18 to telescope therein. Similarly the lowestsection 22 comprises depending sides 30 that are spaced apartsufficiently for section 20 to telescope therein. The telescopingsections are guided in their vertical movement by corner roller bearings32- and facilitated in their movement by side roller bearings 34, saidbearings being mounted between relatively telescoping sections.

Referring specifically to FIG. 3, a heat resistant liner 36 is mountedin section 18. The liner can be made of any of a number of well knownrefractory materials. A sprinkler system 38 is mounted between the liner36 and the top cover 24 of section 18 for the dual purpose of helpingextinguish a fire and to cool both the cover and the burning rig.Vertically adjustable jacks 42 are mounted inthe cover 24 and depend toengage working platform 44 of rig 16. The jacks 42 support the invention14 over and around rig l6 and space the cover 24 thereabove. A hatch 46is provided in the top cover 24, and a ladder 48 pivotally mountedthereunder provides access to the rig when the fire is put out.

Intermediate section 20 has an inwardly extending upper flange 50, andan outwardly extending lower flange 52 with an oppositely disposed stop54. An outwardly extending flange 56 fixed to the lower end of sides 26engage flange 50 and stop 54 of sides 28 to prevent the disengagement ofsections 18 and 20 at the respective opposite ends of their relativetelescoping movement.

Lower section 22 has an inwardly projecting flange 58 fixed to its upperend a similarly projecting stop 60 fixed to its lower end. Theycooperate with flange 52 of section to prevent disengagement of sections20 and 22 at the respective opposite ends of their relative telescopicmovement. Padeyes 62 are defined in flange 58 in which cables 15 engageto hold the invention in descending suspension. When the invention isfully ex-. tended, it is held in suspension by jacks 42. A conduit 64 ismounted on side and has an end 66 that passes under stop 60 and rises tosea level within sides 30. Another end 68 is threaded to engage a hose(not shown) from a salvage barge (not shown) into which oil is pumpedoutwardly from within sides 30.

The combined lengths of sides 26, 28 and 30 are determined to extendbelow sea level at least but above the bottom of the sea. This enclosedbelow sea level area 70 acts as a catch basin for escaping oil.

In operation the sprinkler system 38 is connected to an outside sourceof cooling and fire extinguishing liquid (not shown) and turned on. Theinvention 14, protected by the liner and cool spray from melting ishoisted over the burning oil rig 16. Since the hoisting cables 15 engagethe lower section 22 with sections 18 and 20 telescoping downward bygravity to stops 54 and 60 respectively, the height of the lift isreduced by the combined heights of those sections. With the verticallyadjustable jacks 42 set for top cover 24 and liner 36 to clear anyupwardly extending gear on work platform 44, the invention is loweredover the top of the oil rig. When jacks 42 engage platform 44, section20 telescopes downward along sides 26 of section 18 until flange 50 ofsection 20 engages flange 56 of section 18. As the lowering continues,section 22 telescopes downward along side 28 of section 20 until flange58 of section 22 engages flange 52 of section 20.

The burning rig is now completely enclosed from top to below sea level.The smothering action of the enclosure plus the extinguishing action ofthe sprinkler system puts out the fire by denying it supporting oxygen.Oil escaping from damaged well strings falls into the enclosed area andfloats therein to force water downwardly out to the depth side 30extends below sea level. This oil can be evacuated to salvage bargesbefore it forces all water from area 70 to escape and pollutesurroundings.

The sprinkler system is turned off when the rig is cooled enough for mento open the hatch 46 and purge the enclosure of products of combustionand to ventilate by means not shown but well known. Referring to FIGS. 2and 3, the apparatus is suspended over a burning oil rig by a bridle 72comprising a center frame work 74 which is attached by its center 76 tothe crane. Cables 15 extending from the ends of the frame work passaround sheaves 78 mounted in the corners 80 on projections 82 (only oneindicated on FIG. 2) that center the respective sheaves over respectivepadeyes 62.

A first hatch 46 is used for introducing equipment into the burning oilrig, and a second comer hatch is provided for the entrance of workmen.Both hatches are used for ventilation after the fire is extinguished onthe rig.

Seals can be installed between telescoping parts and a side hatchprovided in intermediate section 20 for opening after a fire is out. Theseals are to prevent leakage of fire supporting air and oxygen into theenclosure before the fire is out, and the hatch is to provide air toscavenge the products of combustion and heat from the enclosure afterthe fire is out.

What is claimed is:

1. Fire smothering and reservoir forming apparatus for use incombination with a floating crane in fighting off-shore oil rig fires,and comprising covering means having upper and intermediate partstelescopically connected for enclosing in extension said oil rig abovesea level; refractory lining means mounted in said upper part of thecovering means for heat shielding said upper part; reservoir meansaxially and telescopically joined to said intermediate part to extendbelow sea! level for defining a storage space under said oil rig for thecapture and retention of escaping pollutants: stop means mounted on saidupper and intermediate parts and on said reservoir means forrespectively retaining them in telescopic connection; and suspensionmeans fastened to said floating crane and to said reservoir means forsuspending said fire smothering and reservoir forming apparatus innesting condition over said oil rig and lowering it into engagementtherewith to enclose said rig from below sea level to its full extentabove sea level.

2. Fire smothering and reservoir forming apparatus as described in claim1 wherein said covering means upper part comprises: a closed cover withdepending sides; hatch means defined in said closed cover for providingentrance and ventilation to enclosed oil rig after a fire isextinguished.

3. Covering means upper part as described in claim 2 wherein said closedcover includes a cooling means mounted therein for cooling said coveringmeans upper part.

4. Closed cover as described in claim 3 wherein said cooling meanscomprises: a sprinkler means having an external input conduit passingthrough said closed part and a plurality of output nozzles verticallydirected downward in said upper part; and a fire extinguishing liquidcoolant means adapted for external delivery to and internal deliveryfrom said sprinkler means for cooling said upper and said oil rig andfor helping to extinguish a fire thereon.

5. Covering means upper part as described in claim 2 wherein said closedcover includes depending vertically adjustable jacks mounted therein andadapted to engage said oil rig and vertically support and space saidclosed cover thereabove with depending sides therearound.

6. Fire smothering and reservoir forming apparatus as described in claim1 wherein said telescoping upper and intermediate parts, and saidreservoir means are respectively spaced apart by roller bearings mountedtherebetween for reducing telescoping friction.

7. Telescoping parts and reservoir means as described in claim 6 whereinsaid parts and reservoir means are rectangularly shaped and rollerbearings mounted between comers thereof define right angles for guidancethereof and the prevention of jamming therebetween.

8. Fire smothering and reservoir forming apparatus as described in claim1 wherein said suspension comprises: a flexible bridal fixed to saidcrane and detachably connected to said reservoir means for suspendingsaid telescoping parts and means in collapsed condition over a burningoil rig, and lowering it progressively to full extension to enclose saidrig to below sea level.

